Cool, calm and confident Camry

Sharp and angular, without being threatening, the updated Camry is a subtle development of Toyota's top-selling medium car

AFTER a new model late in 2024, Toyota’s Camry Hybrid has retained its position as the top-selling medium car in Australia.

With a 10kW power boost, Camry now offers a maximum power of 170kW, from the combination of a 138kW 2.5-litre four cylinder petrol engine and a 100kW electric motor, driving through a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

Previous Camry owners will rejoice at news the core driving experience remains, with an added dash of refined and smooth ride, responsive steering and linear power delivery.

Despite numerous updates, Toyota recognises Camry drivers like subtle over extreme, with changes hidden behind a facade of ‘more of the same’.

The exterior styling is well-defined, with sharper edges to the front end, presenting a muscular, but not aggressive, stance, in keeping with the car’s place as an all-rounder, an ‘everyperson’ filling a variety of roles.

Evolution rather than revolution, the new Camry is comfortable and welcoming, hinting at its potential

This continues inside, with broad, comfortable seats offering support if you want to push through corners, without going to the extreme of the GR-style sports models.

Gone is the soulless feel of earlier models, even the base Ascent gets an 8” central touchscreen with CarPlay and Android Auto, along with satellite navigation, six-speaker AM/FM/DAB radio, our test car was the Ascent Sport, upgraded to a 12.3” screen, auto dimming mirror, leather wrapped gear shifter and steering wheel and LED headlights and fog lights.

While I am all for safety, and recognising Australian rules require multiple systems be fitted, including lane keeping, traction and stability controls and more, the steering column-mounted driver monitoring system is a frustration.

Looking for signs of distraction or fatigue, the camera scans the driver’s eyes to ensure you are paying attention, it doesn’t always know the difference between distraction, and say, checking a blind spot.

The boot hinges are the big let down, like a pair of guillotines ready to crush down on large items and reducing the usable boot space

One complaint is the boot, while roomy, we had four wheels packed in, the big ‘elbow’ hinges act like guillotines chopping down, anything in the way is either squashed, or stops the boot from closing.

Other brands use folding hinges and gas struts to do the same job, with no intrusion into the boot space, this is an area that needs to be investigated.

The new Camry is a capable car, delivering on a promise of sporting ability, without being overly aggressive

Dynamically, the Camry is a relaxed and enjoyable drive, with the capacity for a bit of ‘fun’ driving when needed, the CVT is smooth, the belts adjusting to inputs quickly, without ‘buzzing’ the engine, especially under sudden acceleration.

Steering is precise, the electric power steering eliminates free play at the dead ahead, and is well-weighted, there is enough resistance to know where the wheels are pointed.

Brakes are good, offering plenty of stopping power, although the regenerative braking could be sharper, unlike other Toyota hybrids it feels ‘dialled down’, with less energy harvested to replenish the battery than, say, the Yaris hybrid.

Overall, the Camry has come a long way over the years, it remains a competent, easy-to-drive, car, but with a bit there to reward drivers who like a little more engagement.